Literary CriticismChapter Unit
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By studying these chapters, you will:
- Understand the basic principles of Cleanth Brooks' critical theory.
- Explore the idea that “the language of poetry is the language of paradox.”
- Learn why Brooks opposes the reduction of poetry to paraphrased content in “The Heresy of Paraphrase.”
INTRODUCTION
Cleanth Brooks (1906–1994), a key figure in New Criticism, revolutionized the analysis of poetry by emphasizing:
- The intrinsic connection between form and meaning.
- Focus on paradox, irony, ambiguity, and poetic devices rather than socio-historical or biographical contexts.
Basic Principles of New Criticism:
- Form and meaning are inseparable in poetry.
- Poems cannot be reduced to paraphrase, as it strips away their essence.
- Literary devices like paradox, irony, and metaphors unify the structure of a poem.
- Avoid reliance on reader’s emotional response (affective fallacy) or authorial intent (intentional fallacy).
THE LANGUAGE OF PARADOX
Introduction to Paradox
- Definition: A paradox is a statement that appears self-contradictory but reveals deeper meaning when examined in context.
- Brooks claims: “The language of poetry is the language of paradox.”
- Poetry conveys truth through paradox, avoiding simple, direct statements.
- Paradox is often neglected due to misconceptions that it is intellectual, superficial, or clever rather than profound.
Key Arguments
Paradox in Wordsworth’s “It is a Beauteous Evening”
- Situation: The poet reveres the evening’s holiness, but the girl beside him remains unaffected.
- Paradox:
- The girl’s unconscious communion with nature is deeper than the poet’s deliberate worship.
- Her piety is innocent and natural, contrasting with the poet’s momentary devotion.
Paradox in Wordsworth’s “Lines Composed Upon Westminster Bridge”
- Situation: London, a bustling city, appears calm and organic at dawn.
- Paradox:
- The city, typically mechanical and lifeless, is “alive” when it is asleep.
- The morning light reveals the city’s natural beauty, akin to mountains or rivers.
Key Insight: Wordsworth uses paradox to highlight the extraordinary beauty in commonplace experiences.
Difference Between the Language of Science and Poetry
- Science: Words are used in their strict denotative sense (literal meaning).
- Poetry: Words are multi-layered, carrying connotations, ambiguities, and paradoxes.
- Example: Poetry creates meaning through paradoxes, metaphors, and irony.
Paradox in Donne’s “The Canonization”
- Situation: The poem elevates profane love to a spiritual and sacred level.
- Paradox:
- Profane love is presented as holy and worthy of “canonization.”
- The lovers are like:
- Tapers (candles) consumed by their love.
- The Phoenix, reborn through the fire of their passion.
Conclusion: Brooks asserts that the poem’s meaning could only be conveyed through paradox, which unifies opposing ideas.
THE HERESY OF PARAPHRASE
Introduction
In this chapter, Brooks argues that:
- Form and content in a poem are inseparable.
- Reducing a poem to a paraphrased summary is a “heresy” that destroys its essence.
Structure and Unity of Poetry
- The structure of a poem is not a superficial wrapper but a harmonization of ambiguity, irony, paradox, and imagery.
- Brooks’ View: The “meaning” of a poem cannot be isolated; it emerges from the interplay of its elements.
Example:
- Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn”: The line “Beauty is truth, truth beauty” cannot be understood in isolation.
- Its full meaning depends on the context of the entire poem.
Critique of Paraphrase
- Common Fallacy: Critics assume that a poem’s meaning can be reduced to a logical proposition.
- Brooks refutes this, arguing that:
- A poem’s “prose sense” is not its essence.
- The rhythm, imagery, and tensions warp and transform any paraphrased meaning.
Heresy of Paraphrase:
- Treating form and content as separate entities distorts the organic unity of a poem.
- Attempting to paraphrase a poem ignores its ambiguity, irony, and nuance.
The Role of Language in Poetry
- Poets use words as clusters of meaning, rich in ambiguity and connotation.
- Unlike scientists, who dissect experience, poets unify experience through:
- Paradox: Uniting opposing ideas.
- Ambiguity: Layering multiple meanings.
Key Quote:
- “The poem, if it be a true poem, is a simulacrum of reality… by being an experience rather than any mere statement about experience.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Language of Paradox
- Poetry conveys truth through paradox, not direct statements.
- Paradox allows poets to unify contradictory ideas, as seen in Wordsworth’s and Donne’s poetry.
- The language of science (literal) contrasts with the connotative and layered language of poetry.
The Heresy of Paraphrase
- Form and content are inseparable in poetry.
- Reducing a poem to a paraphrase destroys its meaning and unity.
- Poetry unifies experience through paradox, ambiguity, and irony, making logical paraphrase impossible.
CRITICAL IMPACT OF BROOKS’ WORK
- Contribution to New Criticism:
- Emphasized close reading and analysis of poetic structure.
- Rejected external factors (authorial intent, reader’s emotions) in criticism.
- Brooks’ theories influenced generations of critics, promoting a focus on textual unity and the intrinsic value of poetry.